To recognize practicing career counselors, consultants, or teachers for outstanding performance in day-to-date service for people, each of the following areas will be rated:

Years of service (at least eight years) in direct work with people in regard to career development in education, business and industry, and/or private practice;

Quality of service as indicated by innovative programs, recognition by local organizations, publications, etc;

Service to the profession as indicated by participation and leadership in professional associations at the local, state, and/or national levels.

The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned as indicated. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination for the Career Practitioner Award. Current NCDA board members are ineligible during their term in office. The NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients of the award.

Legislative Award (One may be selected each year)

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made a significant impact on policy or legislation related to the career development profession or to its recipients at the local, state, or national level. Criteria for selection include:

Nature of the Work: Gathering of information and/or presenting testimony of influence resulting in the introduction and/or passage of a bill, amendment, or policy change of significance to the profession or its recipients.

Significance of the legislative action: The action had a widespread effect which allowed the profession to be more effective and/or broadened areas of service or provided for more clients or groups to be served.

Relevance to the profession: The action was primarily concerned with the profession of career development and/or its recipients.

The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned as indicated. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination for the Legislative Award. Current NCDA board members are ineligible during their term in office. The NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients of the award.

Merit Award Selection Criteria (three may be awarded)

To recognize significant contributions to the field of career development, each of the following areas will be rated:

Education and mentoring of career counseling students;

Development of, or leadership in, exemplary career programs;

Conduct significant research in the field; and

Advocacy efforts to inform and persuade policy makers about career development.

The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned as indicated. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination for the Merit Award. Current NCDA board members are ineligible during their term in office. The NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients of the award.

Dr. Kenneth B. Hoyt Career Education Practitioner Award

Colleagues and friends of Dr. Kenneth B. Hoyt have established a memorial fund to provide annual recognition for a Career Education Practitioner whose work supports the Career Education concepts and practices Dr. Hoyt championed throughout his lifetime. Dr. Hoyt led the effort to make Career Education an integral part of the educational program for students all ages. Dr. Hoyt was one of the great and influential leaders of the guidance and counseling profession.

The National Career Development Association (NCDA), together with the American Association for Career Education (AACE) have collaborated to established this award, to honor the life and work of Dr. Hoyt, to recognize Career Education Practitioners who are enabling and providing effective Career Education, and to support the continued planning and development of exemplary Career Education for All Throughout the Life Span.

The award will be presented annually. The award will consist of a plaque with the award information and a monetary award of $300 to be used to further the career education activities or professional development of the recipient.

Selection Criteria

An applicant for the NCDA/AACE Dr. Kenneth B. Hoyt Career Education Practitioner Award shall be an NCDA Member or an AACE Member. An applicant may be self-nominated or be nominated by a colleague. An applicant shall document the degree to which the applicant’s work has enabled and provided effective Career Education. An applicant’s work shall be involved with Career Education programs, instruction, services, or supervision, and may serve students of any age.

The ideal recipient of the NCDA/AACE Career Education Practitioner Award :

Is well-qualified through education, training, or experiences to deliver the Career Education concept, activities, or supervision;

Is providing a high level of integration of the Career Education concept, activities, or supervision; and

Has demonstrated and provides evidence of a high level of success of students who have experienced the integration of the Career Education concept, activities, or supervision.

Applications should not exceed three singled-spaced pages of material that describe the significance of the Career Education concept, activities, or supervision provided by the applicant. This description shall address the three criteria listed above. In addition to the content pages, the application shall have a cover page with the applicants name, address, telephone number, email address, current position, employer, affiliation, education, training, and experience, as well as any other information the applicant wishes to convey.

Diversity Initiative Award The Description / Purpose: To recognize an individual who through their initiatives and commitment, has demonstrated a high degree of cultural responsiveness within the domain of career related activities.

Criteria for Selection: Individuals selected for this award will have documented evidence of one or more of the following areas of involvement:

Significantly enhanced our understanding of and appreciation of the complex career development needs of diverse populations and historically marginalized groups

Contributed to the professional growth of culturally competent and sensitive career counselors

Provided mentorship for diverse graduate students and professionals in the field of career counseling

Successfully advocated for systemic changes that lead to the elimination or reduction of barriers impacting the career development of diverse and/or historically marginalized individuals.

Nomination Process: Any current member of NCDA may nominate an individual for the NCDA Diversity Initiative Award. Nomination letters will include: a. A description of the activities of the nominee related to their qualifications for this award. b. A biographical overview of the nominee. c. Contact information on the nominee. d. One nomination letter e. At least one letter of support. The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned as indicated.

The Committee on Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion will make the final selection for this award.

Eminent Career Award

People who have eminent careers are those that have influenced either the practice of, or the thinking (theorizing) about career development through leadership activities or scholarship. Their careers are characterized by frequent, periodic, and sustained activities over a substantial period of time. Each recipient must hold at least two years of membership in NCDA. The Eminent Career Award Selection Committee shall consist of the last five recipients of the award. Current NCDA Board of Directors members are not eligible.

Read the Eminent Career Award Guidelines for a summary of the three stage process (which begins with a nomination letter prior to January 31) that will be followed in identifying the winner of this prestigious award.

A series of $500 and $250 awards have been established to honor graduate students who undertake exemplary research addressing topics related to career information, career development, and career planning. These awards are for work on a doctoral dissertation or master's thesis approved by the student's institution, which may or may not be completed at the time of application. The student's dissertation/thesis advisor must endorse the award application in writing. Relevance, significance, and research design will be given primary attention in determining the award recipients. Applicants must be NCDA members.

The International Practitioner of the Year Award is an annual recognition of one member who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of NCDA’s mission in their respective country. Contributions may impact career counseling/coaching practice, research, counseling student development, related governmental organizations, or other relevant arenas. The award is selected by NCDA’s International Committee and presented at the annual conference. The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned. Please contact Brian Hutchison for detailed information.

The R/S Foundation Award for Excellence in Career DevelopmentThis award recognizes an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the field through human service, innovative career programming, and/or the provision of effective career services to underserved populations, nationally or internationally. Nominees for the award may be submitted to R/S Foundation in care of the executive director, Barbara H. Suddarth, Ph.D., barbarahs@hotmail.com.

The NCDA Career Development Facilitator Advisory Council is now seeking nominees for the NCDA Outstanding Career Development Facilitator Award 2013. The Nominee will have made significant contributions that have resulted in identifiable outcomes such as: Delivers outstanding service to customers; Exemplifies excellence in Career Development Facilitator competencies; Provides innovative programs; Contributes to a respectful, diverse, and collaborative work environment; Serves as an example of excellence to co-workers and peers. The NCDA Award Form must be completed and returned as indicated.

Career Development Facilitator Champion Award

The NCDA Career Development Facilitator Champion Award recognizes an individual who may or may not be a career practitioner and who has promoted the Career Development Facilitator program. The key criteria are:

An individual who has advanced the training of others as Career Development Facilitators.

An individual who has contributed to increased awareness of the NCDA Career Development Facilitator program.

Each year, NCDA selects up to five distinguished Fellows. The term “Fellow” is a person of professional distinction within an academic institution or society. A Fellow is conferred to recognize outstanding and substantial contributions in science, teaching and training, practice, service, policy development, and political action. NCDA Fellows should have prior experience within the association including leadership involvement, attendance at NCDA events, and/or other related involvement that is unique to the applicant. It is considered an honor to be awarded this distinction.

Service to International Students Award (One may be selected each year)

This award is intended to recognize college/university career services offices and/or career centers that have made an active commitment to partnering with and supporting the career development of international students. Recipients of the “Service to International Students Award” must meet the following criteria:

Career services office/career center within a college or university setting where at least one individual on the nominated team must hold an active NCDA membership.

Uphold an expressed commitment (through office mission, vision, goals, and/or strategic planning) to partnering with and engaging international students in the career development process.

Development and successful implementation of at least one resource or program that supports international students, providing brief quantitative or qualitative measurement of impact and/or description of successful implementation. Resources and programs can be developed and implemented in collaboration with campus offices and partnerships outside of career services.

Articulation of plans for continued growth and investment in resources/programs that build partnership with and in support of international students across the next year.

The NCDA Service to International Students Award Form must be completed and returned. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination for the Service to International Students Award. NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients of the award.

Exemplary Career Center Award

This award promotes the continued development and implementation of thoughtful and innovative initiatives that support career development for outstanding service within the education, government, and/or community setting.

The NCDA Exemplary Career Center Award Form must be completed and returned. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination. NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients of the award.

Awards Presentation

All awards will be presented at the annual NCDA Global Career Development conference. Detailed descriptions of award winners are included in the Fall issue of Career Developments magazine for members. Click below to view articles or slideshows about the previous award winners: